Los Angeles City College

Jessica Crooks: i'm not getting ready to chance it this morning, so sorry about the background, I really wanted to use it, though, was very nice mojo and everything.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): No worries I dated share the mojo background with me either so it's all right, you know you're the lucky.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): No, no, no.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): that's Okay, no I don't know the right people.

Jessica Crooks: Alright, it leaks got another you mojo people i'm.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): telling me.

David Turcotte: Before I let people in i'm Andrea are Dr simians Would you also like to be.

David Turcotte: pinned to the child or you guys okay.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: For now, and if there's a question that cosplay we don't like that.

there.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: may be a Co host as well to help with.

David Turcotte: The moderating yes i'm actually going to do that now some just anyone not have co host i'm going to make you as well, Sophia a Co host if that's okay.

Okay.

David Turcotte: All right, and I think that should be good.

David Turcotte: For you co host my co host all right i'm gonna let the folks in and i'm going to go radio silent, but again, we i've, I think, on behalf of La city college the career Center you mojo we really appreciate you guys doing this and you know, have a wonderful panel.

Sophia Alexander: Thank you.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Thank you.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): alrighty good morning good morning good morning SEC family good morning that's my reminder to turn off my other computer good morning everyone, and thank you very much for joining us, we are excited for another week of black history month career panels.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): today's edition will be around the arts and we have.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): A co host and then i'll be letting everybody introduce themselves so they can really highlight the the major points of how they have their journey and how they've gotten to us today.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): But I first introductions my name is Dr Judith i'm your dean of counseling here at La city college, and so my day to day entails this creating spaces, where you'd be able to get all the counseling services that you that you might need.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): But today I will be your co panelists co facilitator and I will start off by introducing my co facilitator today JESSICA groups will tell you a little bit more about herself before we introduce our panelists today Sofia Alexander so JESSICA ticket oh.

Jessica Crooks: Good morning, everyone, I am just.

Jessica Crooks: I am a last year and last semester student here at La CC I am also a part of the mojo community.

Jessica Crooks: hats that I wear is that I am a mother, I am a wife and I am currently pursuing my bachelor's degree in music industry because I currently am.

Jessica Crooks: Also wife, a daughter, with my husband who's a DJ here in Los Angeles, and we participate in a lot of events and venues and just.

Jessica Crooks: things that happened in the city that have to do with the African diaspora specifically African reggae dancehall and Caribbean music.

Jessica Crooks: And then, on my side hustle because it's Los Angeles everyone got to have one I do makeup and so i'm really honored that I was asked to be a part of this panel.

Jessica Crooks: Some of my experience in the arts and entertainment also include beating a radio DJ host here in Los Angeles.

Jessica Crooks: on local radio and also being a part of the arts for incarcerated youth network and so facilitating a lot of programming there that helped bring a lot of music and arts and entertainment career paths to those who were not.

Jessica Crooks: necessarily exposed to them in their regular everyday lives, so thank you again to the emotional Community for having me thank you doctor or miss miss Alexander for joining us and being a part of our panel and i'm excited to be here, thank you.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): I was on mute fantastic introduction, thank you very much JESSICA I didn't know she was that involved i've just learned a lot, so you mentioned reggae and African music, we will need to talk about that a little bit later, but.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): We will jump right into our panelists have here if you'd like to introduce yourself and give us the highlights of you know how you got to us and your journey so far.

Sophia Alexander: yeah absolutely so my name is Sophie Alexander, I am the senior brand operations manager for FC.

Sophia Alexander: But you don't know they're a subscription beauty service, so they have different levels that you can come in and get their bags the liberty of each month.

Sophia Alexander: So I oversee our monthly budget for several teams, as well as Operation compliance.

Sophia Alexander: And then I also step in as like their events or production producer as needed, so I work both in like business operations and the entertainment art side with them as well, when I need to.

Sophia Alexander: And then outside of that I am a producer, so I have a number of films that i'm helping to produce right now that are in pre production, as well as I serve on the board of directors, for the real marine.

Sophia Alexander: Marine aquarium in San Pedro so and then Julie actually Giuliana actually invited me to work I don't know if you guys know, but my mom is Alex Davis, who was a Dean over at La city college so yeah that's how I come to La CC.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): very interesting well, thank you very much for coming back and you both of you, ladies wear so many hats it's good I already can feel it it's going to be a really involved in great conversation here.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): i'm going to start off because I know JESSICA actually has the first question for for the for our panelists but i'm going to actually put this question to both of you so JESSICA i'm already going off script.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Can you briefly share with us what your career journey has been done before, and it will start with Sophia but just got also love for you to answer this question for us.

Sophia Alexander: Sure, so I think my journey actually started white know my journey actually started in at cal state long beach.

Sophia Alexander: And I will, as a type of student like anytime there was a panel or networking event like I was there with my like one page resume that had like.

Sophia Alexander: All my internships and like stuff I had done when I was like 16 for events and business cards I just had my name and email, and I was handing those things out to anybody who would take.

Sophia Alexander: And so that actually helped me land my first internship at fox news which my major was journalism so that was kind of.

Sophia Alexander: starting my path of being in school and also doing internships to kind of get into the field after graduation and that led to me actually landed a job at fox.

Sophia Alexander: So I worked there for a couple years and I moved to ABC worked in creative services there for a few years.

Sophia Alexander: And then I kind of landed my first event at a nonprofit called film independent, which at the time they were doing the spirit awards and the La film festival.

Sophia Alexander: So that's kind of where I got all of my I would say my skill set that you know would have taken me 10 years to learn somewhere else I learned there and five years, just because I had to wear so many hats, so it went from fundraising to event management to.

Sophia Alexander: You know screenings just everything that I could like get myself into I was doing it, and whether it was making copies or cutting someone coffee, I was doing the best of my ability.

Sophia Alexander: Whatever task was given to me, because just growing up like I knew that my work was a reflection of me, so I made sure to execute everything.

Sophia Alexander: at the highest level as possible and then from there, I actually worked at the film permit office called semi la for about two years so working with production companies to help them.

Sophia Alexander: pull that film permit I actually permitted the first job activity and La county working with the fire department so just picking up a lot of skill sets there and then that led me to FC where I am now.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): An interesting journey there.

Sophia Alexander: yeah.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): How about you JESSICA.

Jessica Crooks: Well, I started off actually with my first interest in business in high school and graduated from what is known as the CEO business academy which taught us a lot of the basics of being in the business world.

Jessica Crooks: From there I jumped immediately into employment because you know, like Sophia said you got to wear many hats and sometimes you can get more experience working, then you.

Jessica Crooks: Can initially going into school, however, after 20 years of working I realized that i've done everything from management to nonprofit.

Jessica Crooks: organization, I was a teacher and arts instructor.

Jessica Crooks: let's see i've done radio i've done accounting i've done real estate and after doing all those things, I noticed that there was a certain blockade that I would hit.

Jessica Crooks: A certain barrier and obstacle and that's because I did not finish my education and even though I.

Jessica Crooks: Even worked at dry and you know other for profit colleges as an admissions advisor there was still that threshold that I needed to cross because I did not have my own education so after about 20 years of working in the work.

Jessica Crooks: Force, I decided that I was going to go back to school and at least obtain the first step and that's the age or as and so here I am.

Jessica Crooks: Going back to school after 20 years and finishing up on the degree that I started when I was 18, and so I will say that a journey never has to be in the exact time that everyone else's journey is.

Jessica Crooks: it's always going to be in your own time and in your own journey and i'm actually happy because, like Sophia Alex Alexander I got a chance to wear a lot of hats.

Jessica Crooks: I got a chance to experience and network with so many different people that now, after I graduate this semester i'll be able to go back to those same people in those networks and really tap into my fullest potential and be able to you know rise to the top.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Very cool well, congratulations on the last semester we're we're rooting for you.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And so i'll dive right into the second question, then.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And i'll start with JESSICA, this time, given that you took a pause you know from going to school and then went into their work, industry and and came back what do you think has helped you the most.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): In any one of them was where they were starting school and in choosing to step away.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): or whatever step away and then going through the different jobs and then coming back to school.

Jessica Crooks: I will say that coven helps me realize that I needed to take the energy that I was exerting on other people and demanding that they do this excellent thing in life and look at the person in the mirror and start demanding that I to do the best that I can in life.

Jessica Crooks: What actually helped me was working for americorps that actually helped me turn the focus back to school because I was doing social justice work here in Los Angeles, helping with.

Jessica Crooks: juveniles, who had previous records and getting those cleared from their records.

Jessica Crooks: And at the same time i'm encouraging these young people, and these people to go to school, and here it is I haven't finished that one goal and dream of myself so being able to help people.

Jessica Crooks: actually helped me realize that I needed help and so returning back to the circle of life, you become a seed once you start planning and you become a fruit and then, once again, you become a cdn so here I am seeding again.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): About you Sophia What would you think helped you the most in your career, thus far.

Sophia Alexander: I think the golden thing for me was networking just networking and keeping your network current and just being out there and having your face forward is always helped me.

Sophia Alexander: grow in also find other opportunities just working alongside people I noticed kind of.

Sophia Alexander: Maybe about five six years ago no further than that, that I kind of was like.

Sophia Alexander: stagnant and I was looking around and i'm like i've always been successful and moving up and moving and careers, and I was kind of looking around like what is going on and I realized I hadn't.

Sophia Alexander: been in a situation where i'd been out networking like I used to do like just attending events, even if it was just once a month panels just talking to people.

Sophia Alexander: You know you meet someone at event just even invited them out for coffee and now with co bit like zoom meetings like those things were so important.

Sophia Alexander: And not only for networking but also just like get information to like develop yourself and like lean on someone else and get information from them so.

Sophia Alexander: I think that now the one of the reasons why I did join a Board was kind of like network, and you know grow myself and expose myself to things that I don't actually have an expertise and because you can.

Sophia Alexander: Always pick up a book like an event management or producing but like.

Sophia Alexander: to grow yourself and make yourself a little you know bigger it's good to pick up these kind of skill sets that you don't know so I know nothing about like the Marine or aquarium world.

Sophia Alexander: Like stepping into this role, but i'm learning so much and it's very interesting and then I can take those skills and apply them to other areas of my life so.

Sophia Alexander: i'm very big on like networking, especially while you're in school like it's the perfect opportunity is the easiest it's already set up for you.

Sophia Alexander: And a lot of times you can like find questions on like Google to ask panelists and like figure out ways to kind of introduce yourself and and grow your network.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Absolutely i'm going to insert myself into the two short stories about networking, so I personally moved to the US as an international student from West Africa 20 years ago.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And on the first day of school, the first thing I had to do was orientation and I happen to sit next to this scrawny looking out excel describing as ronnie looking white guy that just look at look nice i'm like good i'll sit next to him and the first.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): icebreaker we had to do was to take a piece.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Of toilet paper, and I said okay.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And the crowd the toilet roll went around the table and when he got to him this gentleman named Andre took half the role.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And I said what does he knows that I don't know, and so I started thinking, maybe I should take the other half of the role, so I did.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): I didn't know that for every sheet of paper that we would have to say something about ourselves, and I have hated him ever since, and he has been my best friend ever since 20 years later.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): he's gone to Harvard he is an accomplished person in his own right, but when we talk about networking you don't even have to put yourself out there is people in your class there's people that.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): You never know how they will influence your life moving forward and so take that opportunity to say you look different you sound different you are.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Not the typical and I am inquisitive and i'm going to lean in to find out something about you, and then the second one just happened to me last week.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): I was leading a panel, like this one of our panelists DJ severe for the La dodgers I met on a panel and then on Saturday I was leading a hike and during the meditation it just so happens, I was on the same hike with his brother.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Who would have known, and you know when he finally posted a picture of his brother i'm like I just met this guy two days ago and that's the power of networking, so please.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): get to know the people that are in the chat or attending today get to know us because you never know when you will be confronted with or presented with an opportunity to to do something with one of us here, because we have that expertise that you might need so i'll.

Sophia Alexander: add something to that I actually met one of my interns who was now one of our managers here at a starbucks drive through.

Sophia Alexander: I was wearing like some glasses from one of our creators and she recognized them because she was a fan, and we just talked and I gave her my car and i'm like follow up with me and.

Sophia Alexander: It led her to being an intern and then she got a job from there on our social team, so you never know you know when network and even just talking to someone about your interest will lead to somewhere.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): yeah absolutely.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): So JESSICA I just made you a panelist so don't even worry about any questions anymore.

Jessica Crooks: I was like oh great my ticket there we are, I am a panelist now i'm honored to be on the panel.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): i'll go into question three for you and and for those of you that are in in the chat please feel free to join.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): click on the link and give us any questions you might have for the panelists as soon as we get to the end will actually open it up for you to be able to interact with both panelists and I think we have enough time to do that so.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): jot down your questions, we definitely want to get to them.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): So the third question, we had would be what advice would you give to people who want to enter the field that you're in and i'll start with you, Sophia like in the field that you're currently in.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): I know you mentioned networking, or would there be any other things that you'd say as students, they need, we need to prioritize some of those things, if you want to get our foot in the door.

Sophia Alexander: yeah I would say, networking and also if they're if you're into event arts like find places that are having events and donate your time like volunteer like you never know who you're going to meet and.

Sophia Alexander: You know, also as as running those events we're looking for people to hire for events in the future, and if you're reliable and you do a good job, like we're going to remember you i've hired so many people from past events.

Sophia Alexander: To come in and work more events and even travel with us to like New York Texas, you know because they're so good i'd rather hire someone that I know.

Sophia Alexander: and worked with you know, as opposed to someone new in the newer people like I said I keep track them and I work with them, but it kind of just helps set the bar for the next stage so even though.

Sophia Alexander: It might be, you know it might be hard on you to donate your time like maybe you don't have you know.

Sophia Alexander: A babysitter or even you know, a job that will allow you to like find somewhere where you can give back a lot of these things are virtual now.

Sophia Alexander: Even if it's just like hey can I assist you like, I can do run rsvp for you or I can help you with collateral just anything in your free time just to kind of get your foot in the door.

Sophia Alexander: And, at least, you have someone who can be a reference for you, when you go to like apply for jobs in the field but definitely start getting yourself out there, volunteering.

Sophia Alexander: A lot of these things are circuit so even though it's different events like the same people are working in those circuit so you'll get your name known.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Absolutely, I had the same question for you Jessica and.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): In the opportunity you've had with your husband what advice, because you mentioned you collaborate with him what advice would you give people who would like to enter the field that you're getting a degree to get back into.

Jessica Crooks: i'm gonna second and follow up with Ms Alexander and say definitely networking.

Jessica Crooks: The amount of people that i've been exposed to, and not just being exposed to people, but to communities and two cultures.

Jessica Crooks: makes me more tolerant and and makes me have to practice empathy more because I have to sit here, and you know listen actively and be.

Jessica Crooks: engaged in conversations that I may not know all of the perspective of, but I have to be respectful and and incorporate those into what it is i'm going to be doing.

Jessica Crooks: My main goal is to get into the industry, so that we that we as black people the African diaspora could control the narrative that's being spoken about us.

Jessica Crooks: Through arts and entertainment and a lot of times we don't have the business side of it on our side because we don't historically have never been included in that process.

Jessica Crooks: So for me networking has given me the opportunity not only to learn about people, but also about the business and what are the side things in the inside notes in the little.

Jessica Crooks: things that make it particular for regions, so you know just listening, being an active person in the any community and likeness Alexander said being involved in the.

Jessica Crooks: philanthropy side of it i'll say because giving back your time is almost just as valuable if not more valuable than giving your money because anybody can just donate but it takes you being present in the moment to give your time so.

Jessica Crooks: Networking empathy and communication same thing as Alexander said.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Very cool I think you added the intentionality to exactly what you're saying, which is.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): To be intentional about being there meeting those people learning the sides of the business that nobody will give you for free it's not something that you could learn.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): If you went to school, but by rubbing shoulders with those folks and setting up those events, all of a sudden you're you're learning.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): The back end of things, how things are run, what are the x's and o's that or the teeth of across before the event is put on where they contacting and that's gold for the next person that wants to hire you to do those things.

Sophia Alexander: yeah and also like JESSICA said being present and having the right attitude, like you may not know or have the skill set, but like.

Sophia Alexander: I will take anyone willing to learn and with a great attitude than someone who has like 15 years experience with a bad attitude like i'd rather work with the person who's hungry for it and really has a positive attitude and wants to grow.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Very cool that leads directly into the fourth question, which is what barriers or challenges in your career, have you experienced and how did you overcome them because it sounds like you both did.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): For quite a few hats, and so what made you switch and pivot to the next opportunity and then next opportunity and i'll start with you JESSICA.

Jessica Crooks: um always been interested in business, so I knew directly that's what I wanted to do, I wanted to facilitate the process of creating economies and creating money.

Jessica Crooks: For people i've also wanted to be compassionate and what it is, I did so when I first started my first jobs, it was like you know customer service.

Jessica Crooks: Food and hospitality, then I moved up to administration.

Jessica Crooks: With like a being a receptionist being a secretary, and then it would be like Oh, you can now do real estate you're leasing agents in Hollywood.

Jessica Crooks: And then things like racism and sexism would come up the higher you go up in these career paths and that's when I was first confronted with.

Jessica Crooks: What do you want to do intentionally we know you can make money we know you have the skill set to make money, but what is it you're going to be left with the legacy of your spirit.

Jessica Crooks: In what you do and now that i'm taking philosophy class big up to Professor Taurus.

Jessica Crooks: and learning that you know the Buddhist way is the middle path and even in when your intentions to make a living that should also include.

Jessica Crooks: You know, being a balanced spirit and so after working in real estate I realized, it was too.

Jessica Crooks: Racist and sexist I realized that a little bit after working in nonprofit sectors, some of these nonprofits would prefer you facilitate their.

Jessica Crooks: Programming because they would rather continue being able to get funding, rather than lift people out of the situation so that there's no longer in this problem.

Jessica Crooks: So it's a lot of things that you that I I struggled with as far as me personally and then, as far as external obstacles was education, I didn't have any education, I was sitting here selling what I didn't have, and it was a barrier for me.

Jessica Crooks: So the thing to overcome that is definitely get to action and go twice as hard so within a year and a half i've you know taken lots of classes.

Jessica Crooks: Andrea my counselor Thank you so much again for inspiring me and keeping me on track, and here we are last Semester and i'm almost out so.

Jessica Crooks: Education and just the normal things that you go through as an African American in the workplace just you know, racism and sexism it's there it's still there.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): How about use a fear.

Sophia Alexander: I have holly are wholeheartedly agree with JESSICA definitely throughout my career what.

Sophia Alexander: i've had to do is just learning like stand up for yourself like whether you're a person of color or even a woman like they're just.

Sophia Alexander: there's going to be those obstacles in whatever field you're in so one I had to accept that.

Sophia Alexander: No matter it wasn't just this particular job it was going to be anywhere, I went so I had to make sure that you know if I was leaving a job because I wasn't getting what I wanted from that.

Sophia Alexander: That wasn't moving to another job, where I was going to be facing those same obstacles, because I could just fix those where I was, as opposed to starting over but.

Sophia Alexander: Also, just having a network that I can bounce ideas off because what I started noticing is like JESSICA said, the higher I moved up, the harder it was for me even having.

Sophia Alexander: degrees, it was harder for me to get those promotions, because they were one wanting me to come with.

Sophia Alexander: Experience because I knew I had the education but I wasn't getting the opportunities to gain the experience and then I had to look at it from.

Sophia Alexander: The perspective of a woman and a black woman and notice that okay.

Sophia Alexander: My counterparts are giving giving these opportunities, because their brain works that way, whereas I had to do the work.

Sophia Alexander: With the lesser title in order to get the promotion and then have work piled on top of me on top of that, so I had to learn how to advocate for myself like hey if we're all.

Sophia Alexander: checking these boxes to move to the next level, then I should be hitting those levels with my counterparts and I wasn't so it's definitely learning how to advocate for yourself.

Sophia Alexander: And it's uncomfortable and that's why, having a network, and you know being exposed to people who have more experience for your higher up, you can bounce those ideas off, you know how to address the situation and I think that is.

Sophia Alexander: just part of having a Community like I make sure anytime I can give an opportunity to someone of color a minority in my organization, so that.

Sophia Alexander: One day, I have everyone at my level who looks like me or people above me that look like it's important to bring people up behind you and to continue to grow your community and your network, so you don't feel like you're alone in these opportunities, because I am like I think.

Sophia Alexander: there's four people at the top, and two of them are VP level, and then the rest of our senior manager and everyone else under me is junior so it's very important that you know, once you get exposed and get in these spaces, that you look for the people who look like you.

Sophia Alexander: Make your Community strong and then also advocate, because by advocating for yourself you're also advocating for those others who are going to be dealing with the same things that you just went through so.

Sophia Alexander: I think that is part of my advice like yeah we want to move up and we want to move up quickly but get your experience and advocate for yourself, because all they can say is no and if you get that know, then you know Okay, this is the right move for me to move on to a new a new place.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Absolutely there's a comment that I think both of you are hitting here when we spoke about networking and now the barriers is, at least in my experience.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): When you're networking with people who have something to offer that you don't know it's also an opportunity for you to learn, for example, let's say there's a barrier work thats related to racism or sexism.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): I now know the perspective of the other person because i've networked with people that don't look like me that don't sound like me that don't come from the Community, I come from.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And it makes it easier for me to start dealing with that gap if it's solvable at my current place of employment.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And if it was somebody that was you know, a fellow an African American or you know personal color, then I also have somebody to commiserate with and say Okay, how did you deal with this when you were confronted with this situation, because I.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): We are not the first people to deal with racism or sexism or colorism at work, unfortunately, so there's people like us that have that have been faced with these challenges, and so the more you network, the more I.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): will be able to say I know JESSICA now I can speak to her about her experience and maybe.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): I approached it so definitely I would say, networking is key, be intentional about the networking, because some of these people are folks that you can pick their brains on how it is that they're moving to the world that might help you.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): In your your ways of moving the world it won't be the same, but you will figure it out.

Sophia Alexander: Just because someone isn't in the same field is you, even at.

Sophia Alexander: Work doesn't mean that you can't speak with them like.

Sophia Alexander: anytime someone new starts at my coffee i'm like hey can we do a coffee date or like a walk and talk just like one introduce myself, let them know they have a friend and also just to like.

Sophia Alexander: pick their brain like you may have something in common with them that you didn't even realize like even outside of work so it's just important to.

Sophia Alexander: Keep the Community going in like I guess that building your network wherever you can it doesn't matter if it's in class or you know starbucks or at work like just continue to like meet people and network absolutely.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): So I think we actually dove right into the next question which was how are represented, do you feel as an African American in your field.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): So we already know the numbers look like on in sofia's industry, or at least specifically at Pepsi how about the industry at large are the opportunities that still exists for our students that are hungry and still looking to get their foot in the door.

Sophia Alexander: I think there are I know a lot of companies, just in the last couple years are really pushing diversity and equity within the organization so.

Sophia Alexander: If there's something I students are interested in like it doesn't help it.

Sophia Alexander: doesn't to help you know to email a recruiter even hit them up on linkedin like hey or even if you see someone with your job skills.

Sophia Alexander: hey you know i'm really looking to get into what you do your skills look amazing like can we have a quick 15 minute or can you, you know Would you mind answering some questions for me like.

Sophia Alexander: People want to help, and so, if you see someone who's at a company that you want to be at or has a skill set like.

Sophia Alexander: email them like it doesn't hurt all they can say is no like I even go so far as if i'm interested in a job at a company, and I see someone had it before I will email them like hey, can you tell me your experience about that company like you know how is it you know just.

Sophia Alexander: Objectively, because the more information, you have the better it is for you going into a company or even into.

Sophia Alexander: A job so you know you think you want to do events now but, like you, don't have much experience even talking to someone will help you gain experience like okay Is this something that I really want to go in, because there's so many avenues into events.

Sophia Alexander: it's not just being an event producer like you can be you know operations, you can be you know there's so many different fields, just like with.

Sophia Alexander: film production like not everyone needs to be a producer there's just there's lighting there's engineering, you know there's everything, so you want to try, especially while you're in school.

Sophia Alexander: to expose yourself to as much as possible, so that'll help you focus.

Sophia Alexander: On what your skills are and you like to do, because just even over time i've noticed that my love is operations, even though it's been an event in a production.

Sophia Alexander: To the nonprofit like I like compliance I like innovation, I like making stuff happen behind the scenes to make sure that you know everything executed as seamlessly as possible, so and that comes with time and experience and exposure.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Very cool how about you just in your experience, before going back to school, did you feel well represented in in the different fields, so you mentioned working in de bry you mentioned doing makeup you mentioned like this there's a few different industries that you participated in.

Jessica Crooks: Right and no never felt well represented, most of the times, I was probably the only black person in the room, and then, if I wasn't the only black person in the room, I was the most Afro centric black person in the room.

Jessica Crooks: And a lot of times that got me in trouble, you can see my hair i've had to be asked asked to wear natural hair color to work because it was.

Jessica Crooks: distracting the flow of business or told that my nails were too extravagant to eccentric I needed to tone it down to something more natural in office, like.

Jessica Crooks: And then you know 510 years later, here it is the trend that is moving sales and so a lot of time I worked in intangible sales.

Jessica Crooks: And in marketing and like Sophia miss Alexander was saying, the operations, the behind the scenes of a lot of things, is what I also enjoy and so being able to be a program coordinator at the.

Jessica Crooks: nonprofit I worked at it was my duty to not only you know put together the events and the program is what's also do the hiring the HR I was also in charge of.

Jessica Crooks: You know the radio station and booking talent for that you know aspect of it and so.

Jessica Crooks: After you were a lot of hats you just finally see that you're not very many black people where I am and then my goal of being either an ar.

Jessica Crooks: Or you know going into the music industry there are definitely not a lot of black women there, and if they are they're being asked to do talent and operations and That to me is like miss Alexander was saying.

Jessica Crooks: People are getting these jobs, based on what their brain is doing what you want me to go out there and sell first and then do operations and I I didn't go to school.

Jessica Crooks: For beauty, I went to school to prove that my brain operates, the same way that everybody else who has to check these boxes, to have this job is doing and so as a woman, like I said i've met with all kinds of obstacles from.

Jessica Crooks: Like once i'm a leasing a potential Lisa was like hey do you know how to work and i'm like Sir i'm here to do your financials i'm here to look at your social security number.

Jessica Crooks: i'm doing a lot of business here, why would you break that to ask me if I don't go to work.

Jessica Crooks: And so, a lot of times, you have to shut it down like this, Alexander say stand up for yourself and speak for yourself, of course I didn't least to them.

Jessica Crooks: Because I hold the power, but at the same time, it was still like a reality check like wow it doesn't matter how high up or where I go someone is always going to try to either demean me or make me feel a little bit insecure.

Jessica Crooks: By inserting some kind of stereotype or inserting some type of you know just tension in the in the in the conversation so yeah no not a lot of black people but i'm going now I don't care how many don't go i'm going i'll be there.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Well, congratulations and I think it's great it's a great.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): anecdote to share with everybody else, because that is the truth, we will be faced with.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): ignorant Comments like that, and in data they never go away, and I can tell you i've been in my industry education for almost 20 years now, and I got one yesterday.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): You look like a student that I know I look like a student, but when you walk through the door and say I was been so how can I help.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): You know, and you politely does not check them but remind them that this is what we came to do business, so how can I help you.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And it's something that you need to be aware of, so that you also do not you take from you know, one of my favorite people and Michelle Obama you go hi you know if they want to go love you remind them that you on this frequency, not this one.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): All right, um we'll jump right into this sixth question I can't believe we're already at the six question already um do you have any specific advice for African Americans that.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): wish to enter your view, I feel like both of you have already touched on this, as it related to the networking and always.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Avoiding the obstacles, but and also reaching out and giving your time.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): or there is so i've seen this I, especially in the arts industry, I think it is, it may not be the easiest to get into just because of the.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): i'm not an artsy person that's my sister she's the one that can draw create think write poetry, and I feel like all of.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Those that were you know drawn to come to this panel, maybe already have that whether it's left brain or i've been I don't know which one is.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): it's how do they take that skills to that they already have and figure out how to do the business piece of getting their foot in the door that first internship what.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Making sure their resume stand out from the rest and represents them, you know, like like JESSICA says, you know, setting up a resume so the person that's reading the resume expects you to come with Accenture care.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): You know they already see that coming they're like Okay, I want to see that personality come through.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Is there are there any things like that that you would recommend you know our students, think about being intentional about when they were trying to get into the industry and i'll start with you, Mr Alexander.

Sophia Alexander: Sure, like, I think I mentioned before going only Dan and seeing someone has the job that you want like look at their linkedin take their skill set.

Sophia Alexander: And to yours, if there are things on their linkedin skills that you can do at those your resume I think to your linkedin.

Sophia Alexander: When you're looking at these job postings I make sure you're taking like the key elements that they're.

Sophia Alexander: Requiring which are normally like the first three bullets of a job and add that to you if you can do it added to your resume and if he can't.

Sophia Alexander: hit those people up on linkedin and say hey like what was your journey like do you have any advice.

Sophia Alexander: about how I can enter in his organization, are there any areas where I can volunteer where I can learn this stuff.

Sophia Alexander: You know, do you guys do a career shadowing there there's some organizations, we can go in and you can volunteer and just kind of you know they have those give back opportunities.

Sophia Alexander: And where you can come and we've done it at my job so it's just asking the questions.

Sophia Alexander: Even what's your teachers, like a lot, you know they're there, because they have an expertise and they can give you advice as well panelists you mean.

Sophia Alexander: Anything can be kind of a networking opportunity, so that would be my advice and then also just continue to learn like you're going to deal with.

Sophia Alexander: situations that are going to be awkward and uncomfortable but that's in every aspect of your life so be intentional about how you.

Sophia Alexander: deal with those situations because it helps you grow to deal with the next level.

Sophia Alexander: That you're going to be exposed to so whether that is dealing with customers who you know are irate like take that as a learning experience I worked in parking enforcement and.

Sophia Alexander: college, so I was like curse out on a daily basis, people have said that they got a boot on their car or you know my advice to him, like look.

Sophia Alexander: I can let you vent and I can tell you how to fight it or you can pay it like those are your two options, so you let me know what you calm down what you want it's like.

Sophia Alexander: You don't that personally you take it as an opportunity to learn, and yes it's frustrating we all get frustrated but don't.

Sophia Alexander: Like he said when Michelle Obama week you know when they go low we go higher don't don't feed into it, because that's what they want, when they address you.

Sophia Alexander: at those levels with that type of anger so take it as a learning opportunity.

Sophia Alexander: And if it's something that you can handle just you know politely like walk away like okay let's have this conversation at a later day when we're both even kills so.

Sophia Alexander: yeah that's my advice is just try to get as much exposure experience advice.

Sophia Alexander: you'd be surprised how many people actually like giving back and will help you, especially as students, I love students, like those are my heart, so I will always take time to help it and, especially, because I was one before so and I understand.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): We appreciate that we appreciate it just going to do you want to chime in.

Jessica Crooks: advice for students reach out to your emotion Community counselors you never know what panel, you could be asked to facilitate and then end up being on the panel.

Jessica Crooks: So that's what I would say reach out to those networks, because you never know you know, this is an opportunity that now has put me in front of.

Jessica Crooks: plenty of people who are working and doing things in other industries that I resonate with and could resonate with me.

Jessica Crooks: And this Alexander i'll definitely be giving you my contacts lightning idioms after this.

Jessica Crooks: Because I am in love with your journey i'm in love with where you're going with this and.

Jessica Crooks: When I seen the fire pat I was like oh it's future me, and so you know, like she said, look at people who you want to emulate success.

Jessica Crooks: You know, we have enough people doing average and below average why be a C student when you can be a B or a student so just.

Jessica Crooks: take advantage of all the things that the campus is offering because it'll give you exposure and exposure in time we'll get you in the right places in the right spaces in front of the right faces so that's my advice.

Jessica Crooks: And thank you and be humble, because this is a very humbling experience and, once again, thank you for allowing me to be here.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): No, thank you JESSICA i'll say this honestly I feel like if there's anything I can tell any of our students that are listening right now is that.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): You already have a skill set that is shareable with your counterparts that's why we're pushing you to ask me to network.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Jessica and I met what 15 minutes before we did this and it's just in conversation that we realize that they're not getting their that she can share with all of you.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And that are you know key that I could learn from so, even if I could learn from them.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): I we've we figured that you could as well, so don't think it's any it's too late or too early for you to start.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Putting yourself out there and learning, I mean, even if you do something that's uncomfortable the next time you do it you'd be a little bit more prepared and a little bit more prepared and next thing you know.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): you're doing Ted talks and we're looking into like how did they get there well there's that one opportunities I got to speak in front of a.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Great Thank you to you both.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): I think will.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): pivot a little bit into one of the questions that was in the chat which was related financial literacy.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): So the question says how important How important is it to manage finances in terms of making moves in the arts entertainment deal for young black professionals.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): So the idea is really specifically on financial literacy How important is it in terms of making moves in the arts and entertainment industries miss Alexander.

Sophia Alexander: financial literacy is important, it is business personal like it is.

Sophia Alexander: Important to.

Sophia Alexander: understand how your money works and how your money can work for you and just.

Sophia Alexander: And it also helps take away like the fear like okay can't you know if you're in a job that is not your.

Sophia Alexander: Your lover you, you have the financial.

Sophia Alexander: backing and be like okay i'm going to take some time off two to three months to get to where I need to be because i've wasted so many time you know so much time in this field that I didn't want to be in, so I think one like understanding your own.

Sophia Alexander: financial security like I I did that I didn't learn that until my late 20s about saving and just having a kitty to sit on.

Sophia Alexander: And that kind of learning even wandering from the beginning, has helped me to save and have the ability to walk away from situations that aren't serving me so.

Sophia Alexander: In addition to that i've also moved into being able to oversee my entire team's.

Sophia Alexander: Budget, which is you know over $12 million for you know, in a year so being entrusted with that because I understand like one my own personal savings into how that affects business operations and how to build a budget like it's it's so important.

Sophia Alexander: to learn it doesn't have to be the Center of your expertise, but even just having an understanding how budgets act and how they move will movie so far, far along in your career and also like I said, your personal life so.

Sophia Alexander: If you have an opportunity to take a class that deals with like budgeting or just basic business I do it.

Sophia Alexander: They do it, I think that that should be a requirement for everyone, especially people of color because we don't understand.

Sophia Alexander: You know how money moves we don't even understand like how our money doesn't even stay in our Community long after it's earned by us and how other communities it stays there for weeks at a time so it's it's it's so important, I would definitely say take some business classes.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): awesome.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): I can see JESSICA nodding, so we agree.

Jessica Crooks: Take the accounting classes, it has helped me so much not only just budgeting my personal life but being able to go back and rethink.

Jessica Crooks: All of the times that i've had to prepare a budget for a grant that was received at a nonprofit and now we had to break the hours of.

Jessica Crooks: Amongst 13 different you know chill youth, who were working so many hours it like take the classes don't be afraid of the math.

Jessica Crooks: Also, like this, Alexander was saying, historically, we never had that generational wealth to pass down so that we could build upon so make sure that you are comfortable and able to move forward in this and then I apologize if my sound is breaking up I live by the airport.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): that's totally fine just an anecdote here financial literacy is something that we all struggle with.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): My parents have a graduate degree, and I still grew up in a household where I didn't know what my parents make.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): It wasn't until I had to check off a box in the cities, yes i'm that old were you know sad when bubble, then in the paper and pencil and when I was asked what how much my parents made, I had no clue.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): They both worked but finances was not something we shared at home, and so, when I got to college is as an Economics and Business majors when I was actually learning.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): You know assets and liabilities and what goes in the left side and the right side of the balance sheet.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And that has actually helped me oversee everything that I do even at a college campus we have funds we have grant that's the way we're able to put on events like these.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And so, in any industry that you're going to go into math accounting the basics are things you need to know so that at least you can you know.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Budget your time your life and navigate through it so take that class, it will not be my boss is actually was here, I think he's left.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): But I was going to tell a interesting story, because when I took my accounting class back in the day I wasn't doing too well and guess who got me through my current boss so i'm glad I I took that class with him.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): um.

Sophia Alexander: Now I will add financial literacy will also help you with salary negotiations like i've been in situations where company, but like what are your salary requirements.

Sophia Alexander: And then, just like basic investigation, like, I learned that they not only when they asked you that they're asking you for your base salary.

Sophia Alexander: As well as your restricted grant unit, as well as your bonus, and so, if I had not not no man information I would have given them a total number that was way below market value of what actually paying their employee so.

Sophia Alexander: understanding how that works and like how that leads into your salad like even if you're married if your husband has a salary.

Sophia Alexander: You can ask for 10 grand more on top of your salary and tell them you're not going to take the health care because you're going to be on your husband's health care, like understand.

Sophia Alexander: It a higher salary and will help you in your journey.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Did you guys listen to that if you're married.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): You can negotiate to get a higher salary, because some of the benefits that they would have offered you you're already getting through your spouse so that's something to keep in your back pocket.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Right, a question that came in the chat was also how do we find events where we can network.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): What resources are available for us and being new to Los Angeles, makes me feel a little lost when looking for the door to the industry, having an A in progress, instead of having it already seems to be a block in the road when applying to companies in general.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): How true you don't have a degree, yet, but it doesn't mean that you couldn't already start the networking process what, how do we find events and what resources are available for us so as a college i'll start from there and then i'll let the panelists.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): respond as a college both your career Center and your.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): imager counselors have access to different events that we get to know about, because industries want to hire.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): We have a career fair that's coming up, I don't know David and carolyn are here, but we have a career fair in the spring that's about to come up in.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Two months we really have been pushing it back because we want to do something that's safe and in person, so we're trying to see what the the the rules will be with la public health, but we have a ton of employers that are looking for people like you.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): They know that we are the ones that have the purchasing power, and so they would like to have people like us working with them to be able to create the products that they would need.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): So keep in touch with people like David turcotte he's in the he's in the audience so just tag him Juliana Dr Sam and Andrea a key and I think carolyn is here as well.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Because, as soon as you tap into them, they will continue sending you all these different opportunities that come up on a daily basis.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): We actually have a newsletter that we send out so if you haven't you're not currently receiving it, let us know, and we will be able to get you in the door, and just one.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): word of advice, before I got my degree I just volunteered I had an instructor those teaching class at 7am.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And I would volunteer to go set up his class, you know back in the day, setting up a PowerPoint presentation wasn't something that was as easy for him to do.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And I knew how to do that, and so I volunteered my time next thing you know i'm ta for the class next thing you know I know how to set up the syllabus and everything else to teach the class.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And I never went into teaching per se, but I do know what good teaching looks like I do know what an instructor needs to be able to focus on you, the student instead of everything else that may be going off wrong.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And I was 19 or 20 at the time, so I would say to you look for those opportunities, because somebody will say yes, even without a degree, because there's something that you bring to the table.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): JESSICA, have you had any of those experiences before I take it to miss Alexander.

Jessica Crooks: and run it by me one more time because I was agreeing with you so wholeheartedly I forgot what I was agreeing.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): I was looking at ways in which someone could start getting the networking experience.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): EBS have a.

Jessica Crooks: eventbrite and instagram eventbrite is always going to be hosting events that are generated towards.

Jessica Crooks: organizations and events that are like curated by people who have like the budgets to curate them so it's not going to be like.

Jessica Crooks: Not saying, like a low budget thing, but you want to go for something that's going to be progressive also volunteering.

Jessica Crooks: Definitely at different Community organizations and especially at the parks our youth are wanting to see.

Jessica Crooks: The next the older generation come back and you know help show them the way to so at the same time, not only are you getting your foot in the.

Jessica Crooks: door as far as like meeting other people who facilitate these type of programming, but you can also get your foot in the door, with the programming itself once you start volunteering at parks.

Jessica Crooks: To do after school programming and maybe teach kids how to paint because that's where I kind of started with the whole nonprofit thing.

Jessica Crooks: You get asked you know hey do you know how to teach a class and from teaching a class, can you run a program and from running that program you're asked to now facilitate.

Jessica Crooks: 15 programs for all of the parks, for their entire winter session for two weeks so progression by starting off small on the ladder and then kind of just finding yourself in the niche of what it is you like to do and just letting your talents shine you know.

Jessica Crooks: Ultimately, at the end of the day, your work will speak for itself, and if you can get your foot in the door by somebody knowing you and plugging you in or letting your works before itself.

Jessica Crooks: At the end of the day, you've already set the right tone for what it is the ethic, you want to show in your work so volunteer definitely.

Jessica Crooks: And then eventbrite an instagram that's where I find out all the events are and who's doing what and who's trending because I like marketing as well, and I want to stay current with what's moving forward so those are my two goatees instagram and eventbrite.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Oh, how about you miss Alexander.

Sophia Alexander: I will add the litmus JESSICA said so also Facebook and linkedin and all of those sites, you can search by interests, so, whatever your interests are there are tons of events.

Sophia Alexander: linkedin also has learning classes on there, I think it's called Linda but they're like free opportunities to like take different classes to like learn marketing learn business learn HR learn communications.

Sophia Alexander: And also start your mojo Community they have tons of events, you can volunteer with them and trust me their network is wide and vast.

Sophia Alexander: I always find people through Giuliana she'll see something that I posted she's like hey I have a student who's interested in that, but she wouldn't know she had a student at that student and hadn't stayed in contact with her and.

Sophia Alexander: You know volunteered and expressed her their interest to her so definitely started school I started a school with different organizations.

Sophia Alexander: And then I ended up working with our student Community Center and I still keep in contact with all my counselors everyone who ran those organizations and so.

Sophia Alexander: anytime opportunities come about either recommend someone i've worked with or.

Sophia Alexander: recommend someone that I know that reached out to me like hey i'm interested in events i'm Okay, that I came across this opportunity if you're interested, let me know, an hour for you so.

Sophia Alexander: Definitely started school it's The easiest way in and you guys have like a Community there that you can reach out to, and you know if they don't have opportunities for you to volunteer they can at least know that you have an interest and recommend you.

Sophia Alexander: To that to another organization and also Convention centers like just looking at what events they have there and then you can look at and see what agencies are putting on those events, because those agencies are always looking for.

Sophia Alexander: People to volunteer so you know just doing your research, and you know, like I said the easiest way in is basically start at school, especially with organizations like the magic Community they can definitely be a start for you and, like that will lead you to all kinds of avenues.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): awesome awesome I can see that in the chat folks have been.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Echoing exactly with both of you have been saying as related to the linked learning on linkedin.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Different opportunities that exist are the elysee career Center on ag has updated events so if you're not following us yet on.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): ag do that, right now, I feel like one of those YouTube videos where they're telling you the link and subscribe.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Well subscribe now because we are whether it's the left side of the road so.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): To be honest with you, we put on all of those events, and I see somebody picking up their phone I think it's jago please Thank you you're following instructions day go.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): No, but, honestly, we put on all of these events and give me curate them for you, I will most likely never be going back to college to get a degree.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): But all the information I have gotten we want to share with you like miss Alexander said.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): She wants to help students because she's been in your shoes, so please follow us on this specific site, so we can share that information with you.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And both of the virtual and in person, so it's going to be a virtual internship fair on march 14th march 14, we need a virtual into their internship so it's a little less than.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): A month we're already at the end of February already so get your resumes ready if you don't have all of that.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): ready to go comes to us will get you prepared before March 14 so you can you know put your best foot forward let's see i'm kind of scan through the chat to make sure I don't forget.

Sophia Alexander: Anything I also add.

Sophia Alexander: With jobs always apply always apply even if you don't think you have the skill set apply because is not hurt to interview, and if you get an email back from a recruiter you can say hey you know thanks for replying like.

Sophia Alexander: Do you have any feedback for me ask for feedback on your resume asked for feedback on that interview if you didn't get the position.

Sophia Alexander: It doesn't hurt and prepares you for the next opportunity don't ever let.

Sophia Alexander: what's listed on a job description to her you from applying because that is just a generic set of requirements and they're looking for the right person and if you're the right person they'll make it happen for you.

Sophia Alexander: Absolutely.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): I couldn't agree more.

Jessica Crooks: i've worked several jobs that I got from craigslist and that led me to the opportunity.

Jessica Crooks: My first.

Jessica Crooks: Property management position was like $8 an hour, you can live here and just do that but I realized that once you work a position they can never take the title or the skill sets from you.

Jessica Crooks: And so it's like a guaranteed that no I did this because, even if you volunteer you still did the work, even though you, even if it was like an internship so.

Jessica Crooks: Like miss Alexander was saying, do not be afraid to go out there and set yourself up for success, and that means taking a risk.

Jessica Crooks: On what it is you believe you can do, and if you feel like you can do it go out there and do it if you feel like you don't know how to do it.

Jessica Crooks: emulate somebody that doesn't want to do it and learn in the process, or like they say fake it till you make it and then hopefully you'll achieve it if you believe it.

Sophia Alexander: Yes, i'll add to that the skill set is a skill set so whether you are doing an event for a daycare or you know, a mcdonald's the skill set behind event management is the same.

Sophia Alexander: Across the board so get your skills, where you can and put that on your resume, especially if that is the industry that you want to go into.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Very cool so I have to quickly pop off this chat because I have another meeting starting right now so i'm going to get them going and come right back to you, because this is.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): probably going to be my favorite meeting of the week i'm going to leave you interested hands, one of your mojo counters so Andrea do you want to take over or Dr simmons please whoever was going to take or I will be back in about 10 minutes.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: yeah and real quick, what was the I just pulled up the last questions in the chat which one are we on.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: We had just finished with iago question and forgive me if i'm mispronouncing your name.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: So yeah.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: yeah okay yeah go I also so that's where we left off, yet with with yeah good question and also wanted to piggyback on this.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: jago we may need to talk offline because next week, we have a two men Conference, which is our African American male education network development conference that happens every year.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: And that is amazing opportunity for you to network with other young professionals African American males like yourself there's going to be a lot of different speakers this conference, usually have like what 2000 people at it.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: After simmons is held by the La hotel, we do have an additional seat that opened up, and so I definitely think that might be a great opportunity for you get plugged in and kind of be able to connect with other.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: professionals and even you know connect with other students that there's lots of different breakout sessions and workshops of people that you can probably connect with as well, so i'm definitely going to connect you to that if you'll be interested.

Iago Almeraz: yeah I would thank you, Andrea.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: No problem and all of those i'm not sure if everyone here is a young student, but hopefully you.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: You are, and if you aren't he will join the image program because this is part of what we do, we also help students academically but also connecting them with their major to their career and providing those internship opportunities and networking.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: options as well, so I don't know that the same as if you see another question in the chat.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: So the last question Steve we had a question in regards to upcoming opportunities live performances stuff like that David had shared that we have some events with the career Center coming up emotional, we still have another week of black history month, so we do have a lot of.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: Collaboration events with our district coming up so make sure you check out your email security part of the program there should be some flyers in there that pretty much outline all of the upcoming activities so other than that let's see.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: I think there was one question from Adeline.

But.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: i'm not, I think you all may have addressed this already but she's asking about networking she wanted to know ways that you have networked and maybe events that are open to others.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: So y'all can tap into that okay go ahead, Sophia.

Sophia Alexander: yeah I like I said I find things, whether it is on linkedin or.

Sophia Alexander: Facebook just anything that i'm interested in, I will network, so the way that I, I will talk about my board opportunity so i'm on the board of directors for.

Sophia Alexander: Korea marine aquarium facility and the way that I got on board is actually I went to an event that they were having a fundraising event and I just spoke to people and let them know.

Sophia Alexander: That, I was interested in joining the board and then.

Sophia Alexander: started talking about like my experience, expertise and operation and budget management and that led to them having an opportunity for you know someone to come in and help them, you know kind of manage their events stuff in my kind of set.

Sophia Alexander: processes in place so it's really it's really up to you, whatever you're interested in like find those those places like I will network at a food event like and talk to people who have food trucks because.

Sophia Alexander: You know my company from time to time will do conventions, where we have food truck vendors come.

Sophia Alexander: on site so i'm always like in the mode of networking just kind of whatever my interests are at that particular time.

Sophia Alexander: And like I said, you can even start with the mojo Community you know they have tons of event and they will always period so ground with upcoming events.

Sophia Alexander: start with them because, like I said, their networks are vast to so you never know where you know they may not have an opportunity, but someone in their network may be looking for someone and they can recommend you so I definitely would stay connected with them.

Jessica Crooks: i'll say that my initial experience as far as working in nonprofit program coordinating actually started, because my sons and I were homeless and we were staying at the.

Jessica Crooks: URL mission downtown and La and an organization came to do free lunches for us.

Jessica Crooks: And then told us that they were having this kind of like youth night where they were playing games and doing stuff with families, so my sons were like yeah mom let's go check it out check it out.

Jessica Crooks: And even at the bottom of what was a despairing situation, I still found the strength to at least put myself out there to go do something with my kids and ended up at this.

Jessica Crooks: nonprofit that was actually you know doing really good work in the Community and from talking to the director.

Jessica Crooks: I seen her like passing out lunches and my first question was like do you need some help passing out the food.

Jessica Crooks: And from there, she handed me a set of keys I got a business card I had an office and then from there, it was just like Okay, and this is your entire budget for the next year, these are your grants.

Jessica Crooks: facilitate these higher teachers So even if you think you are at the bottom of a situation of disparity, do not let that.

Jessica Crooks: deter you or make you too afraid to still go out there and pursue your goals and your dreams, because for me every type of.

Jessica Crooks: emotion can be transferred and channeled into motivation and even if i'm sad about the situation take that and find the motivation to make it better if i'm angry at a situation.

Jessica Crooks: try to find that and take the motivation to make the situation or myself more understanding or make the situation better so.

Jessica Crooks: Just being able to channel different energies and still continue to improve yourself is just like how I got out there and.

Jessica Crooks: Not being afraid you know, even today, this they asked me yesterday hey Can you help with I was just like yes i'm available make yourself available.

Jessica Crooks: there's always going to be time for you to be on instagram there's always going to be time for you to be scrolling through tick tock.

Jessica Crooks: But, are you always going to have the time to go out there and make yourself visible in the room where you want to be seen, because no one can see you from your home, you have to actually kind of be present and be there.

Sophia Alexander: And to add to a JESSICA saying like I was nervous like my first my first job or I had to.

Sophia Alexander: Go to an event that was out of State like I literally had an anxiety attack, because I had never like really.

Sophia Alexander: been in a situation where I had to network with complete strangers, and I had to like go to my room and kind of reset.

Sophia Alexander: and understand like okay let's let's put some goals together let's make a goal tomorrow to meet three different people ask them these questions and get these business cards like take small steps if you are nervous or.

Sophia Alexander: Whether or not you believe in i'm an introvert working out working hard.

Sophia Alexander: To be an extrovert so I have to do these kinds of exercises to kind of help myself.

Sophia Alexander: Get out there, as well as taking communication classes like if you're afraid to to speak in front of you know, the public take a class like a speech class.

Sophia Alexander: I also took an acting class, I have no interest in acting whatsoever, but it forced me to kind of put myself out there and be vulnerable and know that it's Okay, and like.

Sophia Alexander: Take the feedback and understand like, how can connect with an audience that was.

Sophia Alexander: The scariest thing i've ever done but it helped me in the long run to be a better business woman to be able to advocate for myself have these difficult conversation approached people who are strangers that I don't have.

Sophia Alexander: You know, a connection with that I don't have a friend there to kind of hold my hand so.

Sophia Alexander: If you're not at the stage where you're okay with you know kind of network with people then take a class that will help you along the way.

Sophia Alexander: and join organizations there's like speech and debate there's communication or theater class, you know organizations at your school that you can join that'll help you.

Sophia Alexander: kind of get rid of that fear, so that you can you know advocate for yourself and help move your career along because you know, like they said a closed mouth doesn't get fed, so the more you can learn to open your mouth and like.

Sophia Alexander: Put yourself out there and put yourself in a good light, you know just building those skills, the better.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: Great grades responses and i'm going to just come in counseling mode and say.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: Right now.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: For all the students who are attending this workshop you're the best opportunity to network, even though you might not have release you might not have a work experience.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: You are going to classes you're attending extracurricular events with students who you never know they could be your boss right, it could be someone that you eventually are working in the same field in.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: For myself, I will say I was not the most outgoing person when it came to networking like what was said but I joined organizations right, I tried to join clubs, if I could.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: Whether it was something silly like a video game right you're going to be meeting people, just like I said, even if they're not filled.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: They might know someone who's from that field is looking for someone right when I went into when I transferred to a four year university I joined a group.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: Fraternity right and that was great because I not only got connected with people at my own chapter, but I also met people.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: cross the state other states right there was people who I didn't even know once I finished my masters, who are like hey.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: How do I add this Community college out i'll hire you as agile.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: Right now, without even knowing right, so you never know what opportunities could come in so join extracurriculars as much as you can try to talk to people in your classes go to Twitter and.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: you'll find people in your your matron those right it who knows you know ask them to social media linkedin and a whole you know down the line that that person could you know eventually help job okay so great responses for our panel, I see Giuliana had a question in the chat.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: How do you find balance between your.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: career and work life.

Sophia Alexander: Oh, my gosh it's a daily thing I especially with covidien like working from home, like, I have to be intentional about separating work from.

Sophia Alexander: You know home is you know I can't leave work at work anymore, because work is now in my home, so I have to be intentional about making sure that I am still doing things that fulfill me.

Sophia Alexander: Personally, like you know producing film or whether that is you know scrapbooking or you know shopping that's a break the bank or just learning different things, but you have to be intentional about keeping a personal life so you don't get into kind of this.

Sophia Alexander: This rut where you're like you know.

Sophia Alexander: Maybe you're in it, you know situation where work is going great.

Sophia Alexander: But if work is not going great and you don't have a personal life, you find yourself in kind of like this circular everything sucks everything you know it's just a cycle and there's no vision, out of there, but when you.

Sophia Alexander: Make being are intentional about having a personal life and like having friends and doing things that fulfill you if you're not in your you know career that you want to be, then that personal life helps offset that, so I am intentional about.

Sophia Alexander: meeting with friends having lunch keeping up with family doing virtual birthdays and making sure that I am not.

Sophia Alexander: Making work kind of my end all be all like I make sure like okay I.

Sophia Alexander: After this meeting, whether I have to work a couple hours after work I am checking out at a certain point and it's meantime it's family time it's you know personal.

Sophia Alexander: Experience time so make sure you're intentional about keeping your personal life because, as you move up the career ladder, you have less personal time so it's important to protect that.

Jessica Crooks: As a student i'll say.

Jessica Crooks: This beautiful student planners what has kept my life together for the past few years of being able to.

Jessica Crooks: have questions in there that make me realize that I, this is now the time to separate work, and you know clock out a.

Jessica Crooks: clock out from school or tell my kids hey i'd love to take you to the mall this weekend, but like you mommy's in school, too.

Jessica Crooks: And I have work to do, too, and I have assignments and projects or sometimes i'll ask them, so you want to help me with the project or and then they'll be like no mom we get it, we understand.

Jessica Crooks: And then, even from there makeup is my vanity project and, like I.

Jessica Crooks: Like I like to say, and so that's where I go to find solace to just paint without any kind of expectations.

Jessica Crooks: Or, just to be able to enjoy something without being you know monitored, or having to be organized structured it's just like a free flowing energy thing and then after that dancing.

Jessica Crooks: But that's kind of like a cheat because I get to go out with my husband so like I get to like do both at the same time, so.

Jessica Crooks: Finding the balance finding where you can inject business and pleasure and then finding where you can inject the pleasure in business and then having them both separate it like a math equation, you know you got 123 in the middle so that's what I do.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: So i'm going to go ahead and throw that question to Dr Judith and i'll let him take over after that right.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): that's right, I was gonna say isn't really cheating, though.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Because I mean my partner and I we started doing yoga and meditation in the morning at 6am because we wanted to create that quality of time that we usually wouldn't have.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): You know I work here she works there by time we go and do our separate things when we come back you just want to walk the dog and go to bed, you know, and so you actually do have to I call heartedly agree.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): On one end we're telling you do as much as you can, on the other end we're telling you take time for yourself sometimes those two equations don't usually.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): add up, and so you have to be intentional about saying at this time on this day I making time for myself i'm making time for what feeds.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Your what i'm you know whether it's going to the beach or taking a ride or doing the makeup whatever that looks like.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): prioritize that because that honestly is what's going to Center you to be able to do well in the school field in the career field you can't do it all your burn yourself out and we don't want that for you.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): I believe I jump back in after our last question, which was from Giuliana so do we have any other questions from the.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: do have a question for Sophia I know you mentioned a little bit in your bio that you were getting into producing.

Anthony Zepeda: And i'm really intrigued to know what that would look what.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: That looks like and what you're working on, if you could share with us.

Sophia Alexander: Yes, so i've worked on a number of.

Sophia Alexander: bit music videos for independent artists, as well as I just did a marketing campaign for American girl they launched three new dolls last year during the winter and so right now I am working on a project for the academies and and i'm also in pre.

Sophia Alexander: Production for.

Sophia Alexander: A film, which is basically about finding one of the main characters is HIV positive so still finding love, while HIV positive, and so the film is about like resources.

Sophia Alexander: For not only people in the LGBT community but, as well as people who you know are identifies heterosexual like it's not specifically a.

Sophia Alexander: disease for one group of people so we're building kind of like a Community around and working with different organizations to be able to have resources.

Sophia Alexander: So that's what the film is about, and you know, and you know, to have those type of conversations because that's still kind of taboo, you know HIV and AIDS is taboo in the.

Sophia Alexander: African American Community it.

Sophia Alexander: shouldn't, be it affects us all, so.

Sophia Alexander: that's one of my passion projects kind.

Sophia Alexander: of getting behind things that are like have like a social impact behind them as well.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Very cool I remember in one of the earlier questions JESSICA said, you know she wanted to get into this industry, so that we could.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): reclaim the narrative that's told about us.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And I think that's exactly what this is about an eighth affects.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Everyone, you know I mean most.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): The most famous person we know the guardians was magic Johnson he happens to be black folks if you didn't know he is.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): You know and and so at the end of the day, you know don't believe the hype he's back and he's heterosexual, by the way.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): So it is not a you know some disease that can be put in a specific box and the more you learn, and the more you know about the people and the disease itself, the more you you'll be able to find empathy and they will do I.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Think navigate the world with whatever other challenges come up because AIDS is just one of them.

Sophia Alexander: yeah and it affects all like my I lost my father, the HIV so it's definitely a project that hits home, but I think we all been affected, in one way or another, whether it's friends or you know we know someone so.

Sophia Alexander: You know that's just one of my passion projects that I keep going, you know, along with work so that's kind of where I found my balance like i'm an operation so much, but this allows me to be a little bit creative but also bring my operational skills to it.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): cool, thank you, thank you for sharing that.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): With any other questions that we that may have come up that you heard from one of our panelists or my my co facilitator extraordinaire that we that we bumped up today.

David Turcotte: I want to add if it's okay.

David Turcotte: Just to for just for the sake of our panelists to complete i'll put it in the chat one last.

David Turcotte: Time, but please fill out the survey, because it helps us with our learning outcomes and things that we are trying to do with la city college and and and provide some really great feedback for our panelists.

David Turcotte: I also want to do a shameless plug for our black history month career panel and tomorrow, at the same time JESSICA, we hope to have you back by the way we do have three panelists and Sofia.

David Turcotte: We very much appreciate you and all of your amazing insight seriously and we hope to have you back again.

David Turcotte: But, again, I just like to thank everybody for joining us today and it's very important for us to get your feedback So if you found this panel and other panels to be helpful, please go ahead and the chat and.

David Turcotte: and complete that survey it's very helpful, thank you.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): cool we had one question that just came in.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): which I think is a loaded question well not loaded but it's gonna be an interesting answer.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): I think if you go a few different ways, with it, and the question says how long does it take to get into the entertainment business, and I think it depends, but i'll let Sophia and or just a good tell you about the experience of getting into the entertainment business.

Sophia Alexander: And it is a loaded question, I think it definitely depends on what you mean by getting into the industry, like, I have a ton of friends who are directors.

Sophia Alexander: Producers like my friend is angel Christie Christie William she's directing a number of.

Sophia Alexander: shows for netflix and she actually worked with a right now and then, my friends are the people who produce Tommy and cody who produce back love so.

Sophia Alexander: There in the industry, but they've also created their own opportunities their own production companies and that comes through again with networking like.

Sophia Alexander: You can get into the industry, you can work for these big organizations these big companies and kind of get the standard paycheck or you can be your own boss, which they have chosen to do so.

Sophia Alexander: Like I said depends on you and, like what you're looking into and like we've been saying constantly on here is like networking like networking is key and.

Sophia Alexander: You know, you can do enough networking where you can be self sufficient and have your own kind of thing going, which you know me I.

Sophia Alexander: i'm more word of mouth so like a lot of people that i've worked with I keep my circle kind of tight because there's certain productions, I like to go on and I like productions where it's.

Sophia Alexander: produced in love and I don't like those spaces, where you know people come in with ego and you know just making it a terrible situation for everyone, but.

Sophia Alexander: I have built that kind of community around me and you don't get that going into these big company so depends on.

Sophia Alexander: You you can get in right away with being a PA and kind of working your way up and my paying your dues, with their call him or you can volunteer your time.

Sophia Alexander: On mandy there's tons of production, whether they are people doing their thesis in school or just their kind of side independent projects, but I guarantee you volunteering, those are people.

Sophia Alexander: you'll get be exposed to people who are actually in the industry who you know these are their side passion projects, because what they're working on is their regular job is not their passion, so it depends on you, but like I said getting as much.

Sophia Alexander: Exposure even.

Sophia Alexander: You know.

Sophia Alexander: there's i'm sure there's film class some schools, there you know students who are producing things who need people to help like that is you getting a credit on someone's family.

Sophia Alexander: And that is exposing you to what it's like to be in on a production, you know.

Sophia Alexander: Volunteering your time so there's really no expectations, where a lot of these companies want you to kind of come in and all the lingual so.

Sophia Alexander: it's important to kind of get that experience and you guys are in the perfect opportunity, you know at school and having exposure to these.

Sophia Alexander: Different clubs and you know degrees, where you can learn and have classes and get exposure in network here, because the people you're networking here are definitely going to be the people in your field later on.

Sophia Alexander: Absolutely.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Any other questions.

Steviey :p: I.

Steviey :p: Can I just come on the MIC is that okay.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Please go ahead.

Steviey :p: Okay, but i'm just telling them.

Steviey :p: i'm just like okay hey what's popping my name is Steven or you know needs to be and i'm a first year.

Steviey :p: With Los Angeles city college i'm originally from Maryland born in New York, and so I moved out here to be independent.

Steviey :p: i'm currently i'm on my nine to five i'm a huge advocate for multiple nonprofits on one right now is children's hospital Los Angeles, but I normally work with the LGBT Center and with REACH la.

Steviey :p: And through there i've been gaining a lot of like performance opportunities, and so I would like to level myself up.

Steviey :p: As a performer and grow my skills, however, I don't have a lot of time to take all the classes that elysee may offer.

Steviey :p: in regards to being able to do that, so instead of me just kind of like being sad and not doing anything I thought just going the street and do things so i've done live performances at different bars and restaurants.

Steviey :p: And so I was curious to know with the studio that Los Angeles city College has like on our Is anybody able to like assist students to get into using that.

Steviey :p: Because, like, I would like to record music so then after I perform it live, then they have something that they can that's tangible for them to listen to afterwards.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): So the short answer is yes, we do have a theater studio recording etc that are available here and available to students.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): coven has changed the rules of access to those things, so I have to go back and check the Dean, and the people that oversee those areas what you would need to do to get access to but yes, the answer is yes, they were made for you, not for us.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): So if you want to drop my email address in the chat that way send me an email, so I can fall, I can put you in touch directly with the person that oversees those areas so that we can get you access because that's What, therefore, therefore.

Steviey :p: Okay.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Thank you for the question also and welcome to the west coast.

Steviey :p: thanks for having me I really like that it's cold right now but I like.

Steviey :p: also see me were you saying.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: Also, save you, I want to make sure that we connect with you and your Moshe because we do, Dr simmons a post in the chat we have open MIC nights and different.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: Events and activities to showcase students talent and so we will definitely love to have you so we'll connect after this.

Steviey :p: Okay yeah I would love to i'd love to join and like to be a part of.

Steviey :p: It um I think that black entertainment is evolving itself, and I think like if not just from theatre on to then doing TV film now you have like web three where everyone's like going into the Internet and, like.

Steviey :p: Now, like entertainment itself is just changing constantly and so I think like the sooner that I can bring my skills to the table and help other people, and vice versa.

Steviey :p: I think that we can definitely like stand together, because that would be cool you know they'd be trying us out here, but it's Okay, because as long as we're like together.

Steviey :p: Then, like we can't there's no way that we can fail and so i've learned that like doing youth advocacy.

Steviey :p: From like seeing like being it's important to like help other people and to not sacrifice, but like compromise yourself and like you're compromised like things that you may have been taught.

Steviey :p: To be like oh wow that actually is like bad, but actually like, if you take the time to learn it it actually is a good thing, and so i'm inviting with them so thanks for all the help and all the like the emails and stuff and i'm gonna get to.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): thermal getting.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): There anyone else that wants to chime in.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And like I said we don't have that rigid of a structures, if you have a question for any one of us, not just a panelist feel free to jump in we have about another good 20 minutes with you.

Steviey :p: Okay um What about what would you suggest about when writing for grants so like maybe like you can't find your own.

Steviey :p: performing arts projects, but there are city grants that you can.

Steviey :p: apply to so i've been doing a lot of research in that um which, like i'm surprised, like a lot of people be like I cannot afford to pay for my music but it's like.

Steviey :p: boo i'm telling you you city grants, he has got to go and like look up the grandson like people are willing to like give you the money.

Steviey :p: So, like what advice would anybody gave like when applying to grants like what are some things that I should focus on when thinking about describing the project two people are thinking about key points that I should make sure that I have detailed.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): So, before I jump in i'm going to look at my fellow panelists to see if anybody has expertise in grant writing before I go.

Jessica Crooks: I don't have expertise in grant writing, but I know where you can find grants for people who are wanting to like do music and then possibly like share that aspect and that's what the Los Angeles arts Council.

Jessica Crooks: they're always looking to give out grants for people who are wanting to like teach music or you know facilitate programming for the youth here, the arts.

Jessica Crooks: For incarcerated youth network they're always looking for people to give grants to to facilitate programming.

Jessica Crooks: So if you can't necessarily get your music out there from the standard platforms on iTunes and Amazon, like all those other platforms.

Jessica Crooks: I will say that you should probably reach back into the Community.

Jessica Crooks: and go share first so then that way you can do twofold you can get your talent out there, but you can also give back as well, so.

Jessica Crooks: I know they're always giving grants for that, because that's what I used to work in getting those grants and then facilitating, so I would get a grant.

Jessica Crooks: I call up like a few of my DJ friends or call up some artists I knew who were teaching like songwriting classes and had to go out to the parks and teach those kinds of things so that's.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): I think steve's question is once the before, that is, how do you write the grant, how do you tailor the grant, how do you tailor the narrative about your music to get the grant and you're absolutely right.

Jessica Crooks: it's the same way as you would a podcast.

Jessica Crooks: Something you're passionate about something you're informed about something that you can share to teach.

Jessica Crooks: Very cool yeah.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And so stevie I just wrote one myself, there is no secret sauce to writing for a grant date, you need to sell them on the idea that you're putting.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): What what what sets your project, apart from what somebody else is doing so introducing yourself what you're passionate about what you'll be using the funds for.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And as we mentioned knowing a little bit about budgeting helps because if you speak the language that they would be looking for in terms of.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): How you'd be the inventory if whatever you're doing is going to have inventory or the returns, if anything, so they understand that you know what you're doing, and they are willing to invest and or give you money to further your project.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): there's no formula, to be honest with you it's really about you, presenting your project and giving in.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Having imbibed the idea that is worth funding.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Their samples for how to write a grant that I found online when I was writing mine and honestly Google is how I found them.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And then I sat through two or three workshop there were three through some not nonprofits about how to apply to because there's some grants are a little bit more involved, like stem grants or federal grants.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): But you know you you work your way up the writing for those because those of course give you millions of us, but i'm happy to share that that information with everyone else.

Sophia Alexander: Who would also say I forget the name.

there's like.

Sophia Alexander: it's for students and it's like grants and.

Sophia Alexander: But it's basically it's like unrestricted funds so like whether you're writing an essay somebody to an essay competition or you based on your degree.

Sophia Alexander: have to remember that, but I think those are easier to get as opposed to grants that have kind of working stipulations like you have to deliver xyz whether it's research or.

Sophia Alexander: You know what your program is for that grant so like teaching like you have to have like your whole syllabus together and what you're going to be teaching.

Sophia Alexander: So I definitely think looking into the grant that actually fits what you're going to be looking and then me.

Sophia Alexander: Also, when i'm fundraising for my films on reach out to like small businesses people, I know that have interested interest in the subject that i'm dealing with so.

Sophia Alexander: Whatever your music is about like if you find people that have interest in that reach out to them, they may be able to donate if you're.

Sophia Alexander: If you're performing at a an event or you can work on a project, but you can have your ship like hey if you guys sponsoring me like i'll give you a shout out.

Sophia Alexander: On tick tock.

Sophia Alexander: or Twitter, or you know i'll give you a digital copy of my poster i'll send you a copy of my.

Sophia Alexander: song once it's finished so definitely looking at that, like don't just limit yourself to grants like don't be afraid to just send out kind of you know emails and.

Sophia Alexander: letters to people even go inside stores and talk like hey i'm a you know independent artist and a project coming up and i'm looking for funding, you know, would you be interested in they may or may not but.

Sophia Alexander: Definitely, you should have information kind of like a one sheet or together about it and just don't limit yourself to grants to because those have a lot of restrictions, but I would definitely look at the ones that are unrestricted.

Sophia Alexander: To kind of go after.

Elizabeth: Very cool.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): We got a question from.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): I think it's Malaysia.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: Yes, Michael we skipped a question.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: Is it true, you have to know someone to make it big or does it really go off of what kind of work, you produce.

Sophia Alexander: I think, is based on you and your work, does it help knowing people, yes, but also like, if you are truly like what.

Sophia Alexander: Successes like it's what you make it so it's like what is your goal Is your goal to get into an industry, make a great salary be successful or is your end goal to be.

Sophia Alexander: Famous so it depends on what you're looking for because there's a lot of people behind the scenes that you don't know who are bringing in lots of money and still very successful and people in the industry know who they are, so it depends on what success looks like.

Sophia Alexander: For you, but no, you don't it's not a prerequisite to know people to make it big in the industry, but I think what your idea of big is probably I would play there a little bit to see what that means see.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Thank you, Dr simmons i'd skip that one.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): So the next question was, I am more interested in the management side of the entertainment industry.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): What advice, do you have for someone that is interested in agent and production management sorry artist and production management.

Sophia Alexander: I would say violin not only volunteer but try to find an assistant position for someone who is in entertainment industry, there are always people looking for.

Sophia Alexander: talent managers and talent agents who are looking for assistance.

Sophia Alexander: You know, via job boards craigslist that is definitely a great place to kind of get your exposure to and experience, because.

Sophia Alexander: you're going to see what an agent, who was actually responsible for managing talent has to deal with or working in production has to deal with, and then that will inform you, if that is the path that you want to take, but definitely assistant work is a great way to get in there.

Jessica Crooks: Also, you know, like.

Jessica Crooks: Our counselors are suggesting get to know the motor students, we have a student right now stevie who is an artist looking for opportunities to know get his music out there and then you have a student.

Jessica Crooks: Who is looking for opportunities to help manage an artist you guys are at the same kind of peer level you guys could definitely help each other grow in that aspect and.

Jessica Crooks: develop those skills that she needs so stevie would be like yo I need somebody to go out there and talk to different.

Jessica Crooks: venues and book me and then you're like okay cool I can call different venues and see if they you know be willing to have you on their you know their list or whatever they're doing for that time so just network with everybody in your community.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: Right, I think I think we lost on YouTube.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: And do you want to get the next question.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: Re Ray.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: Is this one from Anthony I love singing How would you.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: start getting your voice out there.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: and heard of what you love okay so so this personal anthony's asking that he loves to sing as well, how would you suggest or giving advice upon you start getting his voice out there and heard.

Jessica Crooks: Oh, you would.

Sophia Alexander: Go ahead, I say I work with a few independent artists and, like their tick tock their instagram and their YouTube we're kind of their goal to channels it's free it gets you exposure and.

Sophia Alexander: Especially with Kobe what they're not being kind of like the open mics like they're usually are the places for you to saying.

Sophia Alexander: it's kind of it's really free advertisement for you, I know people who sing at you know Santa Monica at the prominent I think it's only like $50 to get a permit to be able to sing there.

Sophia Alexander: For a month, but its exposure and like not being afraid to go after what you want, and putting yourself out there, but definitely.

Sophia Alexander: If you can't get Ahold of those events use your you your instagram user YouTube like there a lot of these people wanting people to come with like a following so it's great to kind of build that up.

Jessica Crooks: And then, once you have a finished product you definitely want to get it into the hands of the local DJ.

Jessica Crooks: don't have don't forsake the fact that they're the ones that are introducing new music weekly on a weekly basis.

Jessica Crooks: To the communities that are more likely to pick up your music and the demographics you're looking for also getting contact with the radio stations.

Jessica Crooks: The ones on campus the local community sponsored ones, and anyone that would be willing to like introduce new music and then definitely take advantage of your social media going live.

Jessica Crooks: is not easy, especially when you're doing music you get hit with copyright and, like all kind of like oh you can't play this because it's not your music so definitely always have a try to have original music.

Jessica Crooks: So, then, that way it's not being impacted and your your talent isn't being taken away because you're not following protocol, or you don't have the rights.

Jessica Crooks: to sing a cover song or something like that soundcloud is also a really good one i'm a song called junkie and a lot of times when I look for new music.

Jessica Crooks: and new talent I go to soundcloud and just kind of comb who's out there, organic versus with this main production, if you don't take advantage of the little grassroots.

Jessica Crooks: people that are opening the door for us to do things on our own will always be limited to what the major companies and the major labels want us to do so.

Jessica Crooks: Little mom and pop pop up shops people that are having like vendor.

Jessica Crooks: festivals and different like you know markets offer to go and do some entertainment in between, you know, like you never know if you're out there singing at.

Jessica Crooks: You know someone's baby shower or someone's wedding that you could definitely get the opportunity to do bigger and better things or get more bookings.

Sophia Alexander: And then also working with.

Sophia Alexander: Like the composer's Union idea my ass Catholic there they're always doing an event so evening emailing them i'm sure they had internship opportunities will volunteer opportunities.

Sophia Alexander: depend on your genre get in contact with them like.

Sophia Alexander: You know they they work at all these different events there's always music behind films there's always music, you know with the event and they're helping out so they're also someone.

Sophia Alexander: That can be a resource to you if you're in the music industry and at some point, you will need representation, so it doesn't hurt to reach out to them and even.

Sophia Alexander: You know, get some just general information like, how do you get started, how you know what Should I be doing to put myself out there, how do I grow myself, there are plenty of people within those organizations that can help you.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: are an advice, I just wanted to.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: Just chime in with what's going on in the chat Malaysia is going to work with stevie I mean there's a connection right there, so I just i'm just so.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: excited to see that.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: And then.

Steviey :p: Also, I got her on that job right there.

I see right.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: And then also to.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: Dr i'm sorry i'm David turcotte our.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: career counselor has posted the survey again in the chat.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: So, in order for us to continue to keep bringing these amazing panelists to you, we really need your feedback So if you could just take a moment and do the complete the short survey, if you haven't already.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: And just go ahead and give us your feedback, so we can use that to help us bring in more people and actually bring these two awesome panelists back as well, so if you could please complete the survey, we really would appreciate that Thank you.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: And if you have any other questions and I don't know do.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: You have a little bit more time.

Steviey :p: Are we Andrea i'm having problems, opening the forum can ask him to send it again.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: Okay, will do.

Steviey :p: Thank you.

David Turcotte: yeah no problem, I will re copy it and put it in I think I just put it into the chat it's showing an error Okay, let me, let me take a look at that and i'll resubmit it Thank you guys.

Dr. Blaine Simmons: yeah looks like the link is incomplete.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Unfortunately zoom it kicked me off, I can't even go all the way back up to the original link, but he has we should be able to post that for you stevie and the rest of us so.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): We have about four more minutes before we wrap up, so I will actually start off by just by saying thank you to you in the audience, because it really has given us an opportunity to.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): to share and to take you know memory that you know go down memory lane to figure out, you know how did we get to where we got to we really, thank you for giving us the opportunity to do this and to our panelists.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): We wouldn't have be any way.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): To school athletic success.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Success look like this person, it may not be the same for you, but if you stick to your guns and you get to you do what it is that is.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): right for you and you can be this person that is this voice for African American people a voice in the arts industry a voice.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): As a producer actor someone that's behind the scenes someone that is singing we make connections here, so I just want to say a huge Thank you to you and.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): We really appreciate you taking almost two hours of your time to really share your you know your gems with us and so thank you JESSICA, thank you.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Sophia and we look forward to having you back on and now, how do you, you know closing any closing remarks that you might have for us in the next let's say 3060 seconds go.

Sophia Alexander: Sure, I will say whatever you wherever you are in your.

Sophia Alexander: journey just continue to press for like it's going to get hard, it will get hard but it's worth it in the end.

Sophia Alexander: The success and like where you're going to end up in your career so.

Sophia Alexander: You know if even if you don't feel like you want to experience go for it like I said don't let job requirements stop you from applying for that job use everything as a learning opportunity.

Sophia Alexander: To continue to develop yourself into move on to that next level, we all have to start somewhere I started out with several internships volunteer and more wasn't going to get paid.

Sophia Alexander: I still volunteer from time to time, so it never stopped being a learner be a life learner and continue to grow.

Sophia Alexander: And let me know if there's anything I can help you guys with i'm here to be of service.

Sophia Alexander: cool.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): How about you JESSICA.

Jessica Crooks: I just want to say that i'm ever grateful once again for being here thankful for the combination of all my experiences.

Jessica Crooks: To get me to the decision that led me back to school and just grateful that there's a support system out there and knowing that there's people that have gone before me.

Jessica Crooks: and have laid the way and not only opened the door, but i've built a room and some is Alexander, thank you for building the rooms, that we need to enter so that you can go on and build houses.

Jessica Crooks: And we can maintain those rooms and build more rooms, to build this beautiful house.

Jessica Crooks: that's going to definitely change the narrative of how we are perceived and then definitely upgrade ourselves and give us the respect that we know we deserve for the things that we know we do, and we can do so just grateful to be here, so you Moshe community.

Jessica Crooks: yeah that's it.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Thank you very much JESSICA.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And on that note out say thank you very much to the rest of you have a good rest of your Wednesday afternoon.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): and we look forward to I believe there's one of these tomorrow that I will not be moderating, unfortunately, but I think you'll be in the great hands of JESSICA.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): And we have a great lineup for you as well, so please come back tomorrow 11 to one and we hope you have a great rest of your day Thank you again i'll stay on if you have any questions for us.

Juliana: Thank you.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: Sylvia Thank you.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: Sophia hold on for one second.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: I know i'm gonna I probably need to connect with Giuliana too, but I definitely want your information, because I believe we can definitely get you connected with a lot of students and maybe some mentorship opportunities or whatever.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: You know the network that you have to connect our students, we have quite a few that are into arts, entertainment and music and so anything that you can help us with, we would greatly appreciate it for the emotion Community here at city.

Sophia Alexander: yeah kinds of networking groups that are always looking for for new faces so yeah.

Juliana: As a matter of fact, when your mojo just started I referred a couple of your students over to less Sophia for some FC event.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: yeah.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: yeah wait.

Juliana: This is Sophia.

Juliana: So only just starting mojo like four years ago, I believe.

Sophia Alexander: Oh okay yeah.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: we're yeah.

Juliana: it's he had an event, an event downtown and actually, I believe, to your students participate in her event.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: awesome see I definitely want us to build our network with you for sure i'm gonna i'll give you, I guess, I get your email and stuff from Giuliana your contact information.

Sophia Alexander: Absolutely yeah.

Juliana: i'll send over right now.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): All right, take care, everyone, thank you very much.

Jessica Crooks: Thank you, thank you guys i'll see you guys tomorrow.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: yeah Thank you JESSICA.

Jessica Crooks: No worries, it was so much fun i'm so excited I was flexing on my instagram I was like.

Okay guys.

Sophia Alexander: i'm happy to come back.

DOUCETTE-UMOJA WEST: bless you guys.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: Thank you.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: Thank you y'all go I went to connect you to a two men tomorrow, so if you could drop your email in the chat for me and i'll make sure I send you all the details, we had a student that dropped out Dr drew because they caught colby, and so we can definitely get him registered.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Please, that the opportunity is there for you, I hope you you enjoy it as much as I did, the first time I went so have a great time.

Iago Almeraz: Thank you guys appreciate i'll drop it in now.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): So.

Henan Joof (He/Him/His): Okay cool yeah.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: And then, what i'll do i'll email you the form that you need to fill out just so we can get the Info your information, and then you'll get a confirmation email that you've been.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: To fill out another form for like the filter of waiver and stuff like that, and we do have opportunity for you to stay.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: On at the hotel, if you want to it's not mandatory, but if you do want to stay on on the hotel, you can do that as well.

Iago Almeraz: You know, save yourself some money I don't know.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: If it's it's paying for, and it also will pay for itself, but i'll email you all the details in just a few minutes okay.

Iago Almeraz: I appreciate you Thank you so much.

Andrea Eke-Amacker, LACC Umoja Counselor: you're welcome take care.

Iago Almeraz: bye.

bye bye.